Silver lining in Perth

Friday, 2 March 2012

There were mixed emotions on either side of the nation after Tiger Pete won the Thunder Air Roofing Hcp in Perth this week.

Tiger Pete (3c Shovhog – Bligh Bounty by Forging Ahead) appears a nice horse in the making for Albany trainer Steve Wolfe after making his debut as recently as February 5. He won a Mt Barker Maiden second-up on February 16 before doubling up at Ascot last Wednesday.

Tiger Pete was a $19,000 buy from Raheen Stud’s draft at the 2010 Gold Coast Magic Millions. “He presented like a nice colt at the sale,” Raheen studmaster Basil Nolan jnr recalled. “Steve looks like he got a bargain.”

Wolfe knew the pedigree at first hand having part-owned and trained Tiger Pete’s older half-brother Big Jaw Macgraw (Dodge). He won 6 races including a sprint at Ascot on Anzac Day 2007.

Tiger Pete continues the superb run of results for Raheen’s current crop of three year-olds. Heading their list of graduates is Magic Millions 3YO Trophy winner Punch On (Tiger Hill). And former Raheen sire Shovhog has weighed in with brilliant Brisbane winners Rocket To Glory, Adebisi and Noisy Ocean.

Together, the quartet cost a total of $66,000 from Raheen at the Magic Millions and they’ve already collected more than $2 million for their connections.

Nolan is currently prepping Raheen’s latest draft of yearlings for the Magic Millions QTIS Sale on March 18 & 19. There are 36 yearlings going under the hammer at the Gold Coast including 21 from the first crop of resident sire Publishing.

Tiger Pete’s dam Bligh Bounty delivered a colt by Publishing last September but tragedy struck when the mare and foal were struck by lightning on October 8.

“That date is seared in our memory,” Nolan explained remembering the night a destructive thunderstorm struck Queensland’s Gladfield Valley. “It was heartbreaking losing them but at least there’s a silver lining over in West Australia.”

SHOVHOGDeceased Raheen sire has another promising three year-old named Tiger Pete in Perth